Timberlake powers on to state

PAYETTE — Glori Cheevers and Shelby Starr each hit three-run homers and the Timberlake Tigers qualified for state for the 18th straight season with a 17-7 victory over the Fruitland Grizzlies in a state 3A softball play-in game Saturday.

Timberlake (16-3) will open state Thursday at 10 a.m. PDT vs. District 4 champion Filer (19-6) at Buhl.

Timberlake left Friday morning for the roughly 400-mile bus ride to the “neutral site” game. Fruitland traveled 5 miles.

“We just hit the ball really well today,” said second-year Timberlake coach Casi Reisenauer, whose team totaled 16 hits. “Our defense played well, our intensity was awesome. I’m proud of them; it was like a home game for (Fruitland).”

Cheevers’ homer in the bottom of the first inning tied the game, and answered a three-run shot by Fruitland (8-14). Starr hit her homer in the sixth. After Jacquelyn Mallet was hit by a pitch, Shelby Salois’ walkoff double ended it on the 10-run rule.

Starr finished 4 for 5 with five RBIs, and Cheevers was 2 for 4 with five RBIs.

Fruitland 310 102 — 7 5 5

Timberlake 354 014 — 17 16 3

Game called in 6th inning due to 10-run rule.

McGrath and Sulter; Shelby Salois and Matraca Rocheleau.

HITS: Fruit — Egner, Carbajal, Alacorn, Pesnohlivek, Escabedo. TL — Starr 4, Mallet, S. Salois 2, Cheevers 2, McGrath, M. Salois 3, Malloy, Lindley 2. 2B — Escabedo, Starr, S. Salois, Lindley. 3B — Mallet. HR — Alacorn, Starr, Cheevers.